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tools & materials continued • blum.us) is adding to its self-dosing lineup with Blumotion for Doors. The tiny regulator snaps onto standard Blum cup hinges, with options for inset and overlay doors in a variety of opening angles. • HAND TOOLS Bevel-up jointer plane makes silky-smoo h cuts ITH THEIR LONG SOLES, jointer planes are unmatched at preparing dead-flat surfaces and edges by hand. The typical jointer plane has its blade with the bevel down, but a new Veritas jointer features a bevel-up blade configuration that has some distinct advantages. First, the blade is supported nearly all the way to its cutting edge, dampening vibration and chatter. Second, the chipbreaker is eliminated, which simplifies sharpening, setup, and tuning. Finally, the bevel-up format allows the plane's cutting angle to be fine-tuned easily to suit the task at hand by sharpening the blade at different angles. The 22-in. plane has a 2%-in.-wide A2 blade with a 25° bevel, a Norris-type adjuster, and rosewood handles. Veritas sells accessOlY blades (sharpened to 38° and 50°) to handle trickier grain, and a fence to make jointing boards easier. Jointing board edges for glue-up was quick and predictable, and panels flattened with the plane were ready for finish-flat and smooth, with no torn grain. I highly recommend this tool ($245; www .leevalley.com). -Chris Gochnour is a furniture maker and hand-tool user in Salt Lake City. • DRILLING matched 10mm plug cutter. With unique and durable carbide-tipped countersinks, this $100 set worked beautifully ( www.amanatool.com) . -Matthew Teague is a woodworker and writer in Nashville, Tenn. %4 26 FINE WOODWORKING AMANA'S NEW COUNTERSINK and plug set (model PS-500) comes with everything you need to keep screw holes discrete: four countersink bits with built-in stop collars and four removable drill bitsin., DURABLE COUNTERSINK SET � in., 5/3 2 in., and 1Y64 in.-plus a A big mouth. The adjustable sole plate on this Veritas plane makes it easy to adjust the blade for coarse or fine shavings. PORTER-CABLE REINVENTS THE OMNIJIG Taking a run at the Leigh for the title of most versatile dovetail jig, Porter-Cable is reengineering its Omnijig for a January 2007 release. Like the Leigh, the new Omnijig uses a single set of sliding fingers for both through- and half-blind dovetails, all variably spaced. But what sets the Omnijig apart is a series of stops for template position and bit depth designed to remove trial-and-error from the process. The sliding-finger template is standard on the 24-in. version ($550). A 16-in. version ($400) comes with a template for half-blind and sliding dovetails, though all templates will be available for both jigs. A versatile mortise-and-tenon system will be offered for $300. offers big-saw capacity in a small package. The saw has a number of other useful features: cast-iron wheels; quick-release blade tension; micro-adjust roller-blade guides; large, 26-in. by 201h-in. table; onepiece table support trunnions; blade tracking and tensioning windows; forward-facing blade slot; 4-in.-dia. dust port; basecabinet storage; and a work light, all for around $750 . Ph WORKBENCH CHANGES HEIGHTS, STAYS SOLID The Noden Adjust-A-Bench is a heavy-duty, ratcheting leg system that adjusts a benchtop height smoothly between 28 in. and 45 in., yet is engineered to withstand the pounding and racking pressures of serious workbench use. A basic bench package with legs, rails, and maple top is $800, but you can buy just the legs for $430. Nice options include casters, a RIKON 14-IN. BANOSAW HAS BIG RESAW CAPACITY With 13 in. of resaw capacity, two speeds, and hp, Rikon's new 14-in. bandsaw (model 10-325) Photo, bottom right: Courtesy of Rikon